. >> and here at home one day ahead of president obama's state of the union address, vice president biden is meeting with law enforcement officials in philadelphia about reducing gun violence. while victims of gun violence, like former congresswoman gabby giffords, takes a stand. >> we have a problem where we shop, where we pray, where our children go to school. take it from me. congress must act. >> and this hour president obama will be awarding the medal of army to staff sergeant clinton for courage under fire in afghanistan. he is only the fourth living recipient of the military's highest honor for service in iraq or afghanistan. >>> good day. i'm andrea mitchell live in washington. a stunning announcement this morning from rome. pope benedict xvi is abdicating his office. joining me now is ann thompson, lee at st. patrick's cathedral in new york city, of course, and nbc vatican analyst george weigel is here with me, and we begin with claudio. you were shocked by this. people in st. peter's square didn't even know that it was happening. tell us what happened. >> no, they didn't, andrea